{"id":2203081,"date":"2023-12-11T16:57:30","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T07:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203081"},"modified":"2023-12-12T17:59:18","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T08:59:18","slug":"south-koreas-disabled-left-behind-in-urban-tech-boom-with-public-transport-woes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/12\/south-koreas-disabled-left-behind-in-urban-tech-boom-with-public-transport-woes\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s disabled left behind in urban tech boom with public transport woes"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea\u2019s impressive advancements in public transportation infrastructure mask a critical issue: the inadequate inclusion of disabled individuals in public life. In cities like Seoul, where advanced public transportation and automated services are the norm, this oversight starkly contrasts the nation\u2019s reputation for modernity and accessibility.<\/span><\/p>\n For the disabled community in South Korea, daily life presents a series of challenges, particularly in the realm of public transportation. Lee Sang-cheol, 69, who has been using an electric wheelchair for two decades after losing his legs, frequently faces difficulties in navigating a public transport system that seems to disregard the needs of people like him.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn subway carriages, I often find the designated space for wheelchairs occupied by abled people leaning on the walls, forcing me to park my wheelchair in the middle of the carriage among other passengers,\u201d Lee told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Even simple tasks like using an elevator at a station can become a struggle, as he contends with a lack of basic courtesy from others.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI felt disappointed before, but it\u2019s normal to me now. I guess it\u2019s my way of surviving.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lee\u2019s experiences are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of neglect. Recent <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> have revealed that wheelchair users who travel often are more likely to experience depression, challenging the assumption that greater mobility equates to a higher quality of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Simply improving accessibility is insufficient, the study argued, without also addressing social discrimination and prejudices that people with disabilities encounter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n INVISIBLE IN PUBLIC\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Kim Pil-soon, an activist with Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD), South Korea\u2019s leading advocacy group for individuals with disabilities, points out a key issue in changing societal perceptions: visibility.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe more frequently people with disabilities are seen in public spaces, the more likely attitudes will change. However, the current infrastructure significantly limits their mobility and presence in public areas,\u201d Kim explained.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite making up 5% of South Korea\u2019s population, as per <\/span>2023 data<\/span><\/a> from the Korea Disabled People\u2019s Development Institute, the disabled community remains largely absent from social spaces.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t even see that 5% at workplace or schools, which means that many disabled people are stuck at home and have not been integrated into society,\u201d Kim said.<\/span><\/p>\n Transportation remains a significant barrier. A <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> from October by the Korea Differently Abled Federation indicates that only about 23% of buses nationwide are equipped with accessible lower entrance doors, except for Seoul, where the figure is higher at 63%. In terms of intercity transportation, just five buses are known to be disability-friendly.<\/span><\/p>\n